Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, August 3, 2012 Page: 13 of 40
forty pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
piece" of who he is and who he would repre-
sent, adding that it is of more importance to
have qualified candidates than diverse ones, of
which he said he is both.
"I think I have a cross of experience and ex-
posure to a lot of arenas that makes me an ideal
representative on the City Council," Weisfeld
said. "I believe it's important that we have qual-
ified candidates representing our community.
The fact that I am gay adds another valuable
commodity to who I am and who I represent as
a city."
Although Weisfeld hasn't made any formal
announcement on his candidacy either way, he
said he is in the process of meeting with stake-
holders to "understand and gauge what the
needs and necessities are of the community and
how I as a city council member can facilitate the
needs of our community."
Another possible candidate for District 2 is
Adam Medrano, a Dallas school board member
for District 8 and Pauline Medrano's nephew.
Medrano said he's received "broad support"
over the past year by people asking if he would
run for the seat.
"I've thought about it. It's a possibility," he
said. "I'm strongly considering it."
But Medrano works for the city's park de-
partment, so he said he'd have to quit his job in
order to run for City Council, something he's
also considered.
"I've considered it all," he said.
Openly gay candidate James Nowlin was
among Hunt's challengers in 2011, when she
sought re-election to her seat after considering
a run for mayor.
Campaign mudslinging from both Hunt and
Nowlin supporters divid ed the gay community
as LGBT groups endorsed both candid ates.
Nowlin said recently that he was "still assess-
John Loza
Casie Pierce
ing my options," if he decides to run again for
the District 14 seat, add ing that he'll maintain a
strong campaign and backing.
"We ran a strong race last time and last elec-
tion cycle my candidacy was taken very seri-
ously," he said. "I was a very strong candidate
and extremely proud of what my supporters ac-
complished. If I decide to run again, that
strength will be multiplied."
Although no one is rumored to be eyeing
Koop's seat, Nowlin said he wouldn't consid er
moving to run unopposed. He said he sought
the District 14's position because he was so
deep-rooted in the district's community.
"District 14 is my home. It's the heart and the
soul of the city," he said. "It's a dynamic district
that calls for dynamic leadership and it's where
my heart is."
A redistricting plan approved by the Council
last year made many changes among districts
including moving District 3 Councilman Scott
Griggs into Delia Jasso's District 1. If they were
forced to run against each other, it could cost
the LGBT community an ally. There are rumors
about a lawsuit challenging the plan, but
Griggs declined to comment on the rumors or
redistricting, saying he hasn't thought about
running against Jasso.
"Right now I'm focusing on my con-
stituents," he said. "There's still a lot to do in
District 3."
Griggs gave the same answer about staying
focused on his present constituents in reference
to rumors about another redistricting plan to
move Griggs' district into District 14 where
Hunt is termed out next year.
Casie Pierce, a lesbian who ran against in-
cumbent Carolyn Davis in District 7 in 2011,
said she has considered running again next
year. She, too, said she wouldn't move because
she loves her district.
"I'm just not sure. I'm still on the fence about
it," she said about running.
Aside from the challenge of unseating an in-
cumbent in a black district, Pierce said her
being a lesbian increases her difficulty of gain-
ing the votes of the district's socially conserva-
tive constituents.
"Even though people are pretty liberal in the
district, they're Democrats, it's [the district's]
kind of conservative on the gay thing," she said.
"So, it's kind of hard for a lesbian to go up
against that/'
Former City Councilman John Loza, who
served on the Council from 1997 to 2005 for Dis-
trict 2, said he expects to have many LGBT
members on the Council in the future. He said
he thinks the times are changing to where, even
in Texas, an LGBT candidate could win a coun-
cil seat in any Dallas district.
Echoing Loza's sentiments, Nowlin said di-
versity is always needed on the Council, but
said he would want to win the seat based on his
experience, not his sexual orientation.
"My background is a part of who I am but
not all of who I am," Nowlin said. "I do believe
that the Council could benefit from diversity
but I'm certainly running based on my ability
to serve and not on my background. I will run
and win as the best candidate period." ■
Doctor Eyeware
OUTSTANDING SERVICE ■ MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED
Award-winning Contact Lens Specialist
Optometric Glaucoma Specialist
Therapeutic Optometrist
D&G
DOLCE GABBANA'
VERSACE
MONT° riirri
BLANC GUCCI
TOMFORDEYEWEAR
Dr. Allen B. Safi
4414 Lernmon Ave. at Herschel
Dallas, TX 75219 • (214) 522-EYES
www.doctoreyecare.com
Map your route to success.
•fr.
ijpl)- ' f
iwjy. " ; - ij. \ J*. * * ftv
w..
REGISTER
NOW!
Fall semester starts
August 27.N
El Centra College
DALLAS COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SMART STARTS HERE
08.03.12
dallasvoice 13
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Wright, John. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 29, No. 12, Ed. 1 Friday, August 3, 2012, newspaper, August 3, 2012; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth308878/m1/13/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.